Roaring Ibrar leads the Lions

CHEQUE THEM OUT: Members of Bradford Central Lions Club are pictured presenting a cheque of £3,165.88 to the Save The Mother's Trust in aid of their ‘Widows Project’

National charity’s youngest president promises positive impact

A humanitarian from Bradford, who has charity running in his DNA, says he is honoured to become the youngest club president in the UK for the world’s largest service club organisation.

Ibrar Hussain, from Toller, was welcomed into the leading role of the Bradford Central Lions Club earlier this month as he begins his one year tenure leading the team in the city.

With over one million members worldwide, and 950 clubs in the UK alone, the Lions Club is officially the world’s largest service club organisation.

Signing up as a member three years ago, the now 29-year-old has shown time and time again his commitment to charity work and says he is delighted to be President during a very special time for the Lions Club.

IN CHARGE: Ibrar Hussain is the UK’s youngest Lions President at the age of 29

“I’m really honoured to be the county’s youngest president, especially at a time which coincides with the 100 year anniversary of the Lions,” he said.

“With that in mind, I really want to do something that will leave a lasting legacy of my time at the helm.

“In the past, we have raised money for a number of charities but I want to do something a little different alongside the fundraising which has the potential to be effecting lives years from now.”

Ibrar credits his passion for charity work to his mother who was an advocate for several causes.

“Growing up and seeing the work she was doing for these causes really inspired me to do charity work myself,” he added.

As well as his role with the Lions, the community champion is currently spokesperson for the Save the Mother’s Trust, a charity he began volunteering for 10 years ago, helping vulnerable families in Bradford and around the world.

Alongside the Bradford Lions, the charity helps operate one of the city’s foodbanks, handing out food parcels to families across Bradford.

Ibrar says he hopes to focus much of his efforts on charities ‘closer to home’ during his 12 months as president.

“I have seen for myself how much the foodbank supports peoples’ lives here in Bradford,” he said. “I feel honoured to be the president of a club that is making such a difference to people at a grassroots level.

“I will continue to promote this work over the next year and hope to make a real impact to celebrate 100 years of the Lions.”

In recent years, the Bradford Lions Club has helped a plethora of causes locally, including supporting the disabled by taking them to events across the city and fundraising for Bradford Hospitals Children's Charity.

International projects the group have been involved in include supporting schools in Sri Lanka with books and sending spectacles to people in third world countries.